Best Time to See Owls in South Dakota
June, May and July is the best time to see owls in South Dakota. Based on 923 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when owls are most active across the year in South Dakota.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Burrowing Owl · Coryn Fox Corvus CC BY
Burrowing Owl · Shearwaters CC BY
Western Burrowing Owl · Public domain CC0
923 verified observations of owls in South Dakota, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When owls are recorded in South Dakota
Peak month
June
167 records (18.1% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 37 | 4% |
| February | 31 | 3.4% |
| March | 34 | 3.7% |
| April | 78 | 8.5% |
| Maypeak | 142 | 15.4% |
| Junepeak | 167 | 18.1% |
| Julypeak | 130 | 14.1% |
| August | 59 | 6.4% |
| September | 43 | 4.7% |
| October | 111 | 12% |
| November | 61 | 6.6% |
| December | 30 | 3.3% |
Owls you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Burrowing Owl | 383 |
| Great Horned Owl | 196 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | 150 |
| Short-eared Owl | 67 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 45 |
| Snowy Owl | 42 |
| Long-eared Owl | 20 |
| Barred Owl | 6 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in South Dakota
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when owls are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for owls sit around 49 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 0.5" |
| Feb | 31°F | 11°F | 0.7" |
| Mar | 44°F | 25°F | 1.6" |
| Apr | 54°F | 34°F | 2.4" |
| Maybest time | 68°F | 49°F | 3.7" |
| Junbest time | 84°F | 63°F | 2.2" |
| Julbest time | 87°F | 67°F | 2.5" |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 1.6" |
| Sep | 78°F | 58°F | 2.1" |
| Oct | 58°F | 40°F | 2" |
| Nov | 46°F | 29°F | 0.8" |
| Dec | 35°F | 19°F | 1.3" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for South Dakota. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on owls in South Dakota:
Sightings of owls in South Dakota peak in June, when 167 of the year's 923 verified observations are logged — about 18.1% of the annual total. Activity stays high through June, May and July.
The quietest stretch is December, February and March, when owls are hardest to find — December sees just 30 records. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The owls you are most likely to encounter in South Dakota are Burrowing Owl, Great Horned Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see owls in South Dakota
- Badlands National Park — National Park
- Jewel Cave National Monument — National Monument
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail — National Historic Trail
- Missouri National Recreational River — National Recreational River
- Wind Cave National Park — National Park
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site — National Historic Site
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see owls in South Dakota?+
June is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through June, May and July, based on 923 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are owls hardest to see in South Dakota?+
December is the quietest month for owls in South Dakota, with only 30 verified records.
Are owls active year-round in South Dakota?+
Owls are recorded in 12 of 12 months in South Dakota, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in June.
More places to see owls
More wildlife in South Dakota